Even though the Blizzard of 2006 paralyzed much of Colorado, it couldn’t stop a holiday tradition that has taken place every year since 1956: the Denver Debutante Ball.
We described the lengths to which some of the principals had to go in order to make it to the Dec. 22 presentation, dinner and dance held at the Brown Palace Hotel in a story that appeared both in print and online (the online version can be seen below this post), so today we’ll focus on the debs themselves, their activities and achievements.
Each is midway through her freshman year in college, and many of the debs are from pioneer stock and/or families with deep ties to both the state and region.Ginny Freyer chaired the ball and, with her husband, John, stood in the receiving line with honorary chair Barbara Knight and her son, Roger Davis Knight IV; Nancy Petry and her son, Tim Harrington; and the 2007 chair, Lise Bellmar, and her husband, Richard.
The debutantes were:Jessica Alley, daughter of Ken and Aimee Alley and a student at the University of Northern Colorado. Jessica interned with the Denver Outlaws professional lacrosse team this past summer and is a member of UNC’s club lacrosse team. She hopes to become an athletic trainer.
Her great-aunt, Kay Braun LeLine, was a member of the first Denver Debutante Ball class in 1956; her mother, Aimee DeLine Alley, was presented in 1978 and her aunt, Kristin DeLine Linhardt, was a deb in 1989.

Sara Bacon, daughter of Todd and Nancy Bacon, is studying art history and education at Gettysburg College, where she helps host a weekly show on the college radio station. Her sister was a debutante in 2004.

Kelly Buntmann, daughter of Gary and Mary Buntmann, is a business student at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Her cousin, Ann King, was a deb in 1982.

Caroline Butler, daughter of Sam Butler and the late Beatriz Valdes Butler, is an accomplished classical pianist. She attends Wake Forest University and was joined in the mother-daughter activities prior to the ball by her aunt, Jean Ann Butler, a 1963 debutante.

Madeline Caudle, daughter of Richard Caudle and his wife, Louise Hurlbut, is pre-med at Hamilton College, where she was a summer intern in biochemistry research through the college’s Natural Science Foundation. Madeline also is a member of Hamilton College’s American Chemical Society of Students.

Virginia Cohen, who was presented by her father, Larry Cohen, is the daughter of 1977 debutante Betsy Kelly Cohen and the granddaughter of the late Virginia Kelly, who chaired the ball in 1973 and 1974. Her aunt, Sara Kelly, also was a deb. She attends the University of Colorado at Denver, where she is studying English.

Elizabeth Coxhead, daughter of Tom and Suzanne Coxhead, is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority at Texas Christian University, where she is studying kinesiology. Her sister, Sarah, was presented in 2005 and was among the post-debs introduced this year. Elizabeth wore her sister’s gown as she was presented by her father, who had served as an escort at the 1977 ball.

Caroline Duke, daughter of Jamie and Meg Duke, attends Colby College, where she plays field hockey and is a member of the Republican Club. She plans to play lacrosse for Colby in the spring. Caroline’s sister, Margo, and aunt, Virginia Dunklee Duke, are former debs; Virginia (Vivi) Duke’s mother chaired the ball in 1978 and 1979.

Claire Finch, daughter of Richard and Lynn Finch, has a double major of art and psychology at Duke University, where she is also on the ski team. Her sister, Kelsey, was presented in 2004.

Elizabeth Goodin studies business management at CU-Denver, where she is a member of the Republican Club and the Spirit Club. Her parents are Charles and Mary Ann Goodin; her sister, Katie, was a deb in 2003; her cousin, Kim Bach, debuted in 1987 and her second cousin, Annette Perceful, was presented in 1973.

Allison Grenney, daughter of Paul and Bonnie Grenney, studies environmental science at the University of Denver. She plays club field hockey, volunteers at a school in north Denver and for the Watershed Network, and is a part-time volunteer for Americorps.

Carter Grey, an advertising and marketing student at Southern Methodist University, where she plans to participate in sorority rush this spring, is the daughter of Schuyler and Sarah Gray. Carter’s SMU roommate is fellow deb Kaytlyn Jornayvaz, and she will become a member of the Student Foundation (the campus event planning arm) in the spring.

Brooke Holliday, daughter of Jeff and Nancy Holliday, wore the gown that her sister, 2004 debutante Shelby Holliday, wore for her presentation. Brooke studies business at San Diego State University, where she plays club soccer.

Kaytlyn Jornayvaz, daughter of Bobby and Louisa Jornayvaz, is studying business and art at SMU. With her mother, she founded Arts for Kids; she is also an avid horsewoman, excelling in rider-jumper activities.

Keely Latcham, an English student at the University of Virginia, where she plays on the intramural ultimate frisbee and soccer teams, is the daughter of Chetter and Toni Latcham. Her sister, Jaime, was a deb in 2004 and Keely wore the same dress that Jaime did. Keely’s second escort, William Eucker IV, is a midshipman in the U.S. Navy.

Kristen Logan was preceded as a debutante by her sister, Rebecca, who curtsied in 1998, and five cousins. She is the daughter of Mike and Mary Logan and is studying sociology and history at Colorado State University.

Kaitlin Loiseau, daughter of David Loiseau and 1977 debu Meegan Campbell Carey, is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Santa Clara. Three aunts on her father’s side of the family were presented at the Denver Debutante Ball; she is also related to 2006 post-deb Hilary Harrington and descended from Emerson Carey, who owned salt mines in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Molly Louis, daughter of Clif and Rosella Louis, is studying photojournalism, graphic design and education at the University of Denver.

Holly McHugh, daughter of Jerry McHugh and Priscilla Allen, is on the women’s lacrosse team at Colorado College. Her aunts, Erin McHugh and June McHugh, were debs in 1977 and 1980, respectively.

Madeline Morrissey is the daughter of Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey and his wife, Maggie. She attends the University of Southern California, where she tutors inner-city children through Troy Camp and belongs to the Tomorrow’s Leaders club. One of her mother’s relatives, Sparky (Mrs. Brown Cannon Sr.) Cannon, was a member of the ball’s receiving line in 2004.

Lauren Schaefer, a Theta at Colorado College who tutors in several local schools, is the daughter of Tim Schaefer and Mary Schaefer. With her cousin, fellow deb Lillian Schlosser, she spent two weeks in Africa last summer overseeing the delivery of medical supplies they had raised money for through Direct Relief International.

Lillian Schlosser, is the daughter of Chuck and Persis Schlosser and a creative writing and language student at Denison University. She is vice president of the campus organization SHARE and, along with her cousin, Lauren, is also the cousin of 1990 deb Amy Slothower.

Virginia Kedzie Schotters, is studying psychology and Italian at her father’s alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, where she plans to participate in spring sorority rush. She is a charter member of Forority, a community service organization for freshmen, and also volunteers with an animal therapy group. Her parents are Barney and Nancy Schotters.

Krista Shaw is studying psychology at the University of Santa Clara, where she is a member of the women’s lacrosse team. Her father, Clark Shaw, was an escort at the 1959 Denver Debutante Ball, three years after his brother, George Shaw III, escorted Sally Winters Rippey, in the ball’s inaugural year. Rippey went on to chair the ball, and her husband, Gordon, succeeded the late E. Atwill Gilman as master of ceremonies. Krista’s aunt, Florence Shaw, was a deb in 1963. Her mother is Janet Shaw.

Courtney Smith is the daughter of Linda and Dr. Brent Smith and the sister of 2003 deb Lindsey Smith. She attends Baylor University.

Caroline Taylor, daughter of Fred Taylor and Caroline Reed Taylor, studies literature at Claremont McKenna College and plans to play lacrosse in the spring. She works on campus as a waitress, serving politicians, artists and noted speakers.

Sara Wagner, daughter of Steve and Barb Wagner, studies marketing at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, where she is a member of the Division 1 women’s golf team.

Kristin Will, is pre-med at Seattle Pacific University, inspired by a mission trip to Kenya where she helped conduct medical seminars and clinics. Her parents are Rick and Debby Will; and her cousins, Shelby Holliday and Brooke Holliday, were debs in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

Allison Wold, daughter of Jack and Hildy Wold, is pre-med at Colorado College, where she joined the chamber chorus and plays tennis and field hockey. She wore the dress chosen by her sister, Holly Wold, when she was presented in 2003; their cousin, Leslie Thomas, was a deb in 1980.

Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. Her columns appear every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.